Cynoglossum timorense
Content
Description
Annual (?), 30-40 cm high.
Leaves lanceolate to obovate or oblong, tapering towards petiole, acute to shortly acuminate, nervature distinct, reticulate on lower side, covered by nearly spreading, stiff, bristly hairs, petiole of lower leaves 5-10 mm long, blade 1.5 by 0.7 cm, petiole of middle leaves shorter, blade 3-3.5 by 0.9-1 cm, petiole of upper leaves 0-2 mm long, blade 1.5-2.5 by 0.6 cm.
Inflorescence loose, elongated up to 15 cm after flowering, with leafy bracts in the lower, ebracteate in the upper part; pedicels filiform, 1 mm long in flower, elongated to 3-7 (-15) mm in fruit, curved downwards.
Stamens: anthers subsessile a little below the fornices, ovoid, 0.6 mm long.
Distribution
Flores present, Lombok present, Timor present
Malesia: Lesser Sunda Islands (Lombok, Flores, Timor).
Notes
Several plants from Java are similar to C timorense in their small nutlets, comparatively long, slender fruiting pedicels and small leaves. It is not quite clear whether they should be assigned to C. javanicum, that seems to be extremely variable, or to C. timorense.
A specimen from Sumbawa is characterized by larger leaves that are sub-serrate by the thickened bases of marginal bristles and distinctly larger calyx with sharply acute lobes, that are spreading star-like. It is not clear whether this is within the normal amplitude of variation or whether this plant represents a separate taxon probably on the infraspecific level.